University of Washington/Boeing Aircraft Structures and Composite Materials Certificate Programs: A Soaring Partnership for Education and Industry

摘要

Advanced design concepts and materials, including composites, are being applied to many Boeing aircraft structures to improve performance and reduce maintenance and life cycle costs. The use of composites has been dramatically increased but there is less engineering workforce experience with the design, analysis, manufacturing, and support of composite structures when compared to metallic structures. Moreover, metals technology has continued to evolve, taking advantage of new alloys, advanced fabrication techniques, and increased assembly process automation (e.g., automated manufacturing, additive manufacturing, welding, and aluminum-lithium alloys). To address the workforce competency needs for today's advanced structures, The Boeing Company partnered with the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle to develop multiple certificate programs in aircraft structures focused on composite design, analysis, and manufacturing. These programs represent a historic collaboration between academia and industry to provide engineers with a state-of-the-art education in advanced aircraft structures design, analysis, manufacturing, and support and provide an academically rigorous education with an emphasis on practical applications. Curriculum was collaboratively developed and is continuously assessed for relevance and effectiveness by a UW and Boeing Advisory Board. These training courses integrate cooperative learning methods through academic/industrial partnerships and provide efficient, motivating, and relevant structures engineering education materials. They are built on the philosophy that students learn best through active engagement in many practical team activities such as design, manufacturing, and support projects. The certificate programs further strengthen the culture of sharing and learning and advance the capability of structures engineers at The Boeing Company.